Method for representing a tactile image and touch screen apparatus for performing the method

ABSTRACT

A method for representing a tactile image and providing a touch function and a haptic feedback function to a tactile touch panel includes: applying a touch driving voltage to the tactile touch panel; and applying a tactile voltage corresponding to an image to be displayed to the tactile touch panel in a blanking interval when the touch driving voltage may be not applied to a plurality of touch driving lines of the tactile touch panel, when a touch sensing voltage corresponding to a touch on the tactile touch panel may be received through a plurality of touch sensing lines of the tactile touch panel.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/835,114, filed on Mar. 15, 2013, and claims priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2012-0100914, filed on Sep. 12, 2012 and KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2013-0100469, filed on Aug. 23, 2013, and allthe benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the content ofwhich in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a method forrepresenting a tactile image and a touch screen apparatus for performingthe method. More particularly, exemplary embodiments of the inventionrelate to a method for representing a tactile image on a touch screenpanel of a capacitance type to realize a haptic feedback function and atouch screen apparatus for performing the method.

2. Description of the Related Art

Humans interface with electronic and mechanical devices in a variety ofapplications, which may be improved with a more natural, easy-to-use andinformative interface. Specifically, humans interface with computerdevices for a variety of applications. One such application may beinteracting with computer-generated environments such as games,simulations and application programs. Computer input devices such asmice and trackballs may be used to control a cursor within a graphicalenvironment and provide input in such applications.

In some interface devices, force feedback or tactile feedback is alsoprovided to the user, collectively known herein as “haptic feedback.”For example, haptic versions of joysticks, mice, gamepads, steeringwheels or other types of devices may output forces to the user based onevents or interactions occurring within the graphical environment, suchas in a game or other application program.

In portable electronic devices such as laptop computers, compact devicessuch as trackballs may be used instead of mice. In the portableelectronic devices, “touchpads,” which are small rectangular, planarpads provided near the keyboard of the computer, are widely used. Thetouchpad senses the location of a pointing object by any of a variety ofsensing technologies, such as capacitive sensors or pressure sensorsthat detect pressure applied to the touchpad. The user contacts thetouchpad typically with a fingertip and moves his or her finger on thepad to move a cursor displayed in the graphical environment.

A touchscreen is typically used for inputting information via a sensingpad that is covered on a display screen, widely used in a device such aspersonal digital assistant (“PDA”), and other mobile electronic devices.

A tactile panel may be disposed on a touch screen panel of a capacitancetype to provide a haptic feedback function, and the touch screen paneland the tactile panel may be separately provided.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a method for representinga tactile image which prevents an electric field generated by a tactileimage from being blocked when a touch operation is performed through atouch screen panel of a capacitance type.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a touch screenapparatus for performing the above-mentioned method.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method forrepresenting a tactile image and providing a touch function and a hapticfeedback function to a tactile touch panel includes: applying a touchdriving voltage to the tactile touch panel; and applying a tactilevoltage corresponding to an image to be displayed to the tactile touchpanel in a blanking interval when the touch driving voltage may be notapplied to a plurality of touch driving lines of the tactile touchpanel, when a touch sensing voltage corresponding to a touch on thetactile touch panel may be received through a plurality of touch sensinglines of the tactile touch panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, a phase of the tactile voltage may beinverted every frame interval of the image that is displayed on thedisplay panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be applied to thetactile touch panel in a vertical blanking interval, during which a scansignal for activating a switching element of a display panel fordisplaying the image is not applied to the display panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the vertical blanking interval may include atouch interval and a tactile interval. In such an embodiment, thetactile voltage may be applied to the tactile touch panel in the tactileinterval.

In an exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage applied in the tactileinterval of the vertical blanking interval may have a phase differentfrom a phase of the tactile voltage applied in the tactile interval ofan adjacent vertical blanking interval.

In an exemplary embodiment, a touch frame interval, during which thetouch driving voltage is applied may include a first tactile frameinterval and a second tactile frame interval, and a phase of the tactilevoltage applied to the tactile touch panel in the first tactile frameinterval and a phase of the tactile voltage applied to the tactile touchpanel in the second tactile frame interval may be different from eachother.

In an exemplary embodiment, two touch frame intervals, in which thetouch driving voltage may be applied to the touch driving lines,corresponds to a tactile frame interval, the tactile voltage may beapplied to the tactile touch panel before the touch driving voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines in a first touch frame interval, andthe tactile voltage may be applied to the tactile touch panel after thetouch driving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines in a secondtouch frame interval.

In an exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage is applied to thetactile touch panel in a (4N−3)-th touch frame interval and in a(4N−1)-th touch frame interval, and a phase of the tactile voltageapplied to the tactile touch panel in the (4N−3)-th touch frame intervaland a phase of the tactile voltage applied to the tactile touch panel inthe (4N−1)-th touch frame interval may be different from each other,where N is a natural number.

In an exemplary embodiment, a vertical blanking interval of the imagemay include a touch interval and a tactile interval. In such anembodiment, the touch driving voltage may be applied to the touchdriving lines in the touch interval, and the tactile voltage may beapplied to the tactile touch panel in the tactile interval.

In an exemplary embodiment, a vertical blanking interval of the imagemay include a touch interval and a tactile interval, and the tactileinterval may include a first tactile frame interval and a second tactileframe interval. In such an embodiment, the touch driving voltage may beapplied to the touch driving lines in the touch interval, the firsttactile voltage may be applied to the tactile touch panel in the firsttactile frame interval, and the second tactile voltage having a phaseopposite to the first tactile voltage may be applied to the tactiletouch panel in the second tactile frame interval.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, a touchscreen apparatus includes a tactile touch panel including a plurality oftouch driving lines and a plurality of touch sensing lines, where thetactile touch panel performs a touch function and a haptic feedbackfunction, a touch voltage applying part which applies a touch drivingvoltage to the tactile touch panel, and a tactile voltage applying partwhich applies a tactile voltage corresponding to an image displayedthereon to the tactile touch panel in a blanking interval, during whichthe touch driving voltage may be not applied, when a touch sensingvoltage corresponding to a touch thereon may be received through thetouch sensing lines.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines may be disposed on a same substrate. In such anembodiment, the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines mayextend crossing each other. The tactile touch panel may further includean insulation layer disposed on an area, where the touch driving linesand the touch sensing lines overlap each other, and the insulation layerelectrically isolates the touch driving lines and the touch sensinglines. In such an embodiment, the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines may be substantially parallel to each other. In such anembodiment, the tactile voltage applying part may apply the tactilevoltage to the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines may be disposed on different substrates, respectively. Insuch an embodiment, the tactile voltage applying part may apply thetactile voltage to the touch sensing lines.

In an exemplary embodiment, a phase of the tactile voltage applied tothe tactile display panel may be inverted every frame interval of theimage displayed thereon.

In an exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be applied to aportion of the tactile touch panel corresponding to a position of thetouch detected through the touch sensing line.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen apparatus may furtherinclude a display panel disposed below the tactile touch panel and ashielding layer disposed between the tactile touch panel and the displaypanel and which blocks the tactile voltage from being applied to thedisplay panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen apparatus may furtherinclude a scan driving part which outputs a scan signal activating aswitching element disposed on the display panel, where the tactilevoltage applying part may apply the tactile voltage to the touch drivinglines and the touch sensing lines in a vertical blanking interval,during which the scan signal is not applied to the display panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the blanking interval may be in a verticalblanking interval of the image.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch voltage applying part may apply asingle touch driving voltage to the tactile touch panel in a verticalblanking interval of the image, and the tactile voltage applying partmay apply a single tactile voltage to the tactile touch panel in thevertical blanking interval of the image.

In an exemplary embodiment, a touch frame interval, in which the touchdriving voltage may be applied to the touch driving lines, may include afirst tactile frame interval and a second tactile frame interval. Insuch an embodiment, the tactile voltage applying part may apply a firsttactile voltage to the tactile touch panel in the first tactile frameinterval, and may apply a second tactile voltage having a phase oppositeto the first tactile voltage to the tactile touch panel in the secondtactile frame interval.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch driving voltage may be applied tothe touch driving lines in a touch frame interval, and two touch frameintervals may define a touch frame interval. In such an embodiment, thetactile voltage applying part may apply the tactile voltage to thetactile touch panel before the touch driving voltage is applied to thetouch driving lines in a first touch frame interval, and may apply thetactile voltage to the tactile touch panel after the touch drivingvoltage is applied to the touch driving lines in the second touch frameinterval.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch driving voltage may be applied tothe touch driving lines in a touch frame interval, and the tactilevoltage applying part may apply a first tactile voltage to the tactiletouch panel in a (4N−3)-th touch frame interval, and may apply a secondtactile voltage having a phase opposite to the first tactile voltage tothe tactile touch panel in (4N−1)-th touch frame interval, where ‘N’ isa natural number.

In an exemplary embodiment, a vertical blanking interval of the imagemay include a touch interval and a tactile interval. In such anembodiment, the touch voltage applying part may apply the touch drivingvoltage to the tactile touch panel in a touch interval, and the tactilevoltage applying part may apply the tactile voltage to the tactile touchpanel in the tactile interval.

In an exemplary embodiment, a vertical blanking interval of the imagemay include a touch interval and a tactile interval, and the tactileinterval may include a first tactile frame interval and a second tactileframe interval. In such an embodiment, the touch voltage applying partmay apply the touch driving voltage to the tactile touch panel in thetouch interval, and the tactile voltage applying part may apply a firsttactile voltage to the tactile touch panel in the first tactile frameinterval, and may apply a second tactile voltage having a phase oppositeto the first tactile voltage to the tactile touch panel in the secondtactile frame interval.

According to a method for representing a tactile image and a touchscreen apparatus for performing the method, a tactile voltagecorresponding to a displayed image to a tactile touch panel is appliedto perform a haptic feedback function on a touch screen apparatus of acapacitance type in a blanking interval during which a touch drivingvoltage is not applied to the tactile touch panel, such that a touchoperation is effectively prevented from being blocked by an electricfield generated by a tactile image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the invention will become more apparentby describing in detailed exemplary embodiments thereof with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of a tactileimage representing method according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a touchscreen apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an alternative exemplary embodiment ofa touch screen apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an alternative exemplary embodimentof a touch screen apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an alternative exemplary embodimentof a touch screen apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing another alternative exemplaryembodiment of a touch screen apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 19 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 18;

FIG. 23 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 18;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing an alternative exemplary embodimentof a touch screen apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 25 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage and atactile voltage in the touch screen apparatus described in FIG. 24.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms, and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, itcan be directly on, connected or coupled to the other element or layeror intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when anelement is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to”or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there are nointervening elements or layers present. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any andall combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layersand/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/orsections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only usedto distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section fromanother element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a firstelement, component, region, layer or section discussed below could betermed a second element, component, region, layer or section withoutdeparting from the teachings of the invention.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms, “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to crosssection illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealizedembodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations asa result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances,are to be expected. Thus, embodiments described herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustratedherein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example,from manufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described asflat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover,sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regionsillustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes arenot intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are notintended to limit the scope of the claims set forth herein.

All methods described herein can be performed in a suitable order unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “suchas”), is intended merely to better illustrate the invention and does notpose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwiseclaimed. No language in the specification should be construed asindicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of theinvention as used herein.

A technical term “viewing angle” is defined as the angle between theline of sight of the viewer viewing the screen and the tangent to theintersection between the line of sight and the observed screen surface,and the difference between the center and left/right edge viewing anglesis defined as and used to mean the “viewing angle difference.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a method for representing atactile image and exemplary embodiments of a touch screen apparatus forperforming the method in accordance with the invention will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing an exemplary embodiment of a tactileimage representing method according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image is displayed on a display panel (stepS110). The image displayed on the display panel may have varioustextures. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the image may be animage of uneven texture such as a skin of tree or a surface of rock. Insuch an embodiment, for example, the image may be an image of metaltexture or an image of fabric texture.

In a display vertical blanking interval, during which the image is notdisplay on the display panel, a touch driving voltage is provided to atouch driving line disposed on a tactile touch panel disposed on thedisplay panel (step S120), and a touch sensing voltage is receivedthrough a touch sensing line disposed on the tactile touch panel (stepS130). In an exemplary embodiment, the touch driving line and the touchsensing line may be disposed on a same substrate. In an alternativeexemplary embodiment, the touch driving line and the touch sensing linemay be respectively disposed on different substrates. In such anembodiment, where the touch driving line and the touch sensing line aredisposed on substrates different from each other, a substrate having thetouch sensing line thereon is disposed on a substrate having the touchdriving line thereon.

When a touch driving voltage (e.g., a driving voltage or a drivingcurrent) is applied to the touch driving lines, a capacitor is formed ata peripheral portion of the touch sensing line adjacent to acorresponding touch driving line. When a touch means, such as a fingeror a touch pen of a user, for example, is approached to the capacitor,charges are flowed from the capacitor such that strength of an electricfield is varied. A touch sensing voltage is collected based on a varyingamount of the electric field through the touch sensing line.

Then, it is determined whether a touch occurs or not (step S140). In oneexemplary embodiment, for example, when the collected touch sensingvoltage is greater than or equal to a reference voltage, it may bedetermined that the touch occurs at a corresponding portion.

When it is determined that the touch is not generated in step S140, itis determined whether a tactile image representing method is ended ornot (step S142). The tactile image representing method is ended when itis determined that the tactile image representing method is ended instep S142, and it is fed back to step S110 when the tactile imagerepresenting method is not ended.

In step S140, when it is determined that a touch occurs, a touchposition is determined based on the collected sensing voltage (stepS150).

Then, a tactile voltage corresponding to a displayed image is providedto a touch electrode of a touch generating portion (step S160), and thenit is feedback to step S110. The tactile voltage may be applied theretoin a pulse type having various widths and various amplitudes. In oneexemplary embodiment, for example, a tactile voltage of great amplitudemay be applied to the touch electrode when an amount of an uneventexture is great, and a tactile voltage of small amplitude may beapplied to the touch electrode when an amount of an uneven texture issmall. In such an embodiment, the tactile voltage may be applied to thetouch electrode in various timings. In one exemplary embodiment, forexample, in a tactile interval different from a touch interval when thetouch driving voltage is applied to the touch electrode, the tactilevoltage may be applied thereto in a same timing or in the differenttimings. In such an embodiment, in a touch interval when the touchdiving voltage is applied to the touch electrode, the tactile voltagemay be applied to the touch electrode in the different timing when thetouch driving voltage is not applied to the touch electrode. In anexemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be applied to the touchelectrode in a sequential timing. The sequential timing will bedescribed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, in a blanking intervalwhen a touch driving voltage is not applied, a tactile voltagecorresponding to an image is applied to a tactile touch panel, such thata touch operation is effectively prevented from being blocked by anelectric field generated by a tactile image.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the touch screen apparatus forperforming the tactile image representing method will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an exemplary embodiment of a touchscreen apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of a touch screen apparatus100 according the invention includes a tactile touch panel 110, avoltage transmitting/receiving part 120, a display panel 130, a datadriving part 140, a scan driving part 150 and a timing control part 160.

The tactile touch panel 110 includes a plurality of touch driving lines112 and a plurality of touch sensing lines 114, where the touch drivinglines 112 and the touch sensing lines 114 perform a touch function and ahaptic feedback function. The touch driving lines 112 may extendsubstantially parallel to a Y-axis and may be arranged in an X-axis. Thetouch sensing lines 114 may extend substantially parallel to an X-axisand may be arranged in a Y-axis.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch driving lines 112 has a structurethat indium tin oxide (“ITO”) patterns of a rectangular shape areconnected to each other in a chain shape. In such an embodiment, thetouch sensing lines 114 has a structure that ITO patterns of arectangular shape are connected to each other in a chain shape. Thus,when viewed on an XY-plane, the tactile touch panel 110 may have amatrix shape. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the touchdriving lines 112 and the touch sensing lines 114 are disposed crossingeach other, and an insulation layer (not shown) is further disposed on acrossing area of the touch driving lines 112 and the touch sensing lines114.

The voltage transmitting/receiving part 120 includes a touch voltageapplying part 122, a sensing voltage collecting part 124 and a tactilevoltage applying part 126, each of which are connected to the tactiletouch panel 110 and the timing control part 160.

The touch voltage applying part 122 is connected to the touch drivinglines 112 and applies a touch driving voltage to the touch driving lines112.

The sensing voltage collecting part 124 is connected to the touchsensing lines 114 and receives a touch sensing voltage. The sensingvoltage collecting part 124 provides the timing control part 160 withthe received touch sensing voltage.

The tactile voltage applying part 126 is connected to the touch drivinglines 112 and the touch sensing lines 114. In a blanking interval whenthe touch driving voltage is not applied to the touch driving lines 112,the tactile voltage applying part 126 applies a tactile voltagecorresponding to an image displayed on the display panel 130 to thetouch driving lines 112 and the touch sensing lines 114. In an exemplaryembodiment, the blanking interval may be in a vertical blanking intervalof an image. In an exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage is greaterthan a touch driving voltage. In one exemplary embodiment, for example,when an image displayed on the display panel 130 is an image having anuneven texture, the tactile voltage applying part 126 provides the touchdriving lines 112 and the touch sensing lines 114 with a tactile voltagehaving a first level. The tactile voltage may be applied in analternating manner to increase a haptic feedback effect. In oneexemplary embodiment, for example, a first tactile voltage having afirst phase may be applied to the touch driving lines 112 and the touchsensing lines 114 in a first blanking interval, and a second tactilevoltage having a second phase opposite to the first phase may be appliedto the touch driving lines 112 and the touch sensing lines 114 in asecond blanking interval.

The tactile voltage applying part 126 and the touch voltage applyingpart 122 are operated at different times. The tactile voltage applyingpart 126 and the touch voltage applying part 122 may be operated basedon a control of the timing control part 160.

The display panel 130 is disposed below the tactile touch panel 110. Thedisplay panel 130 may be a liquid crystal display panel, a plasmadisplay panel or an organic light-emitting display panel, for example.In an exemplary embodiment, where the display panel 130 is a liquidcrystal display panel, the display panel 130 may include a plurality ofpixel electrodes (not shown) for displaying an image, a plurality ofswitching elements (not shown) for activating the pixel electrodes. Insuch an embodiment, the switching elements may include a thin-filmtransistor (“TFT”).

The data driving part 140 provides a data signal to a pixel electrodedisposed on the display panel 130. In one exemplary embodiment, Forexample, when the display panel 130 includes a switching element, thedata driving part 140 provides the pixel electrode with a data signalvia the switching element.

The scan driving part 150 outputs a scan signal for activating theswitching element disposed on the display panel 130. When the scansignal is applied to the switching element, the switching element isturned on to deliver the data signal to the pixel electrode. In such anembodiment, the tactile voltage applying part 126 applies a tactilevoltage to each of the touch driving lines 112 and the touch sensinglines 114, in a vertical blanking interval, during which the scan signalis not applied to the display panel 130.

The timing control part 160 provides the data driving part 150 with animage data for displaying an image on the display panel 130 and a firstcontrol signal corresponding to the image data, and provides the scandriving part 150 with a second control signal for activating a switchingelement disposed on the display panel 130. In such an embodiment, thetiming control part 160 provides the touch voltage applying part 122with a third control signal for performing a touch function, andreceives a touch sensing voltage provided from the sensing voltagecollecting part 124. In such an embodiment, the timing control part 160provides the tactile voltage applying part 126 with a fourth controlsignal for performing a haptic feedback function.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the touch screenapparatus 100 may further include a shielding layer 170. The shieldinglayer 170 is disposed between the tactile touch panel 110 and thedisplay pane 130 and effectively prevents the tactile voltage outputtedfrom the tactile voltage applying part 126 from being applied to thedisplay panel 130.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the shielding layer 170 maydisposed within the display panel 130. In an exemplary embodiment, wherethe display panel 130 is a liquid crystal display panel including anarray substrate, an opposite substrate opposite to the array substrateand a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate andthe opposite substrate, the shielding layer 170 may be disposed on theopposite substrate. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, theshielding layer 170 may be disposed on the array substrate.

Hereinafter, timings of various exemplary embodiments of the touchdriving voltage and a tactile voltage applied to the tactile touch panel110 described in FIG. 2 will be described. In the following signaltiming diagrams, D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn denote touch driving lines, andS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn denote touch sensing lines, where ‘n’ is anatural number.

FIG. 3 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, each of frames, e.g., a first frame and asecond frame includes a vertical blanking interval (V_BLANK), duringwhich an image is not displayed on a display panel, and the verticalblanking interval includes a touch interval (TOUCH) and a tactileinterval (TACTILE).

In the touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted from thetouch voltage applying part 122 and sequentially applied to each of thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and a touch sensing voltagescorresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn arecollected by the sensing voltage collecting part 124.

In the tactile interval, a timing when a tactile voltage is applied tothe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn is substantially the sameas a timing when a tactile voltage is applied to the touch sensing linesS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In an exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltageis applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn during a predetermined timewithin the tactile interval. In one exemplary embodiment, for example,an applying time of a tactile voltage applied to a first touch drivingline is substantially the same as an applying time of a tactile voltageapplied to a second touch driving line. In such an embodiment, anapplying time of a tactile voltage applied to a first touch sensing lineis substantially the same as an applying time of a tactile voltageapplied to a second touch sensing line.

A phase of the tactile voltage is inversed every frame. In one exemplaryembodiment, for example, in a tactile interval corresponding to a firstvertical blanking interval, a first tactile voltage is applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing linesS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In a tactile interval corresponding to a secondvertical blanking interval, a second tactile voltage having a phaseopposite to the first tactile voltage is applied to the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . .. , Sn. Thus, a phase of a tactile voltage is inversed every frame, suchthat a haptic feedback effect (e.g., a vibration effect) issubstantially increased.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a tactile voltage issimultaneously applied to all of touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . ,Dn and all of touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In analternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be appliedbased on an area where a touch occurs.

In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when the sensing voltagecollecting part 124 collects the touch sensing voltage, the timingcontrol part 160 may determine that a touch occurs at a position. Insuch an embodiment, the timing control part 160 provides the tactilevoltage applying part 126 with information of the touch. The tactilevoltage applying part 126 applies a tactile voltage to a touch drivingline in a portion corresponding to the position of the touch and a touchsensing line in the portion corresponding to the position of the touch.In such an embodiment, the number of the touch driving lines in theportion corresponding to the position of the touch may be greater thantwo. In such an embodiment, the number of the touch sensing lines in theportion corresponding to the position of the touch may be greater thantwo.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a touch driving voltageis applied to the touch driving lines and a touch sensing voltage iscollected during a touch interval of a vertical blanking interval,during which an image is not displayed on the display panel, and atactile voltage is simultaneously applied to the touch driving lines andthe touch sensing lines in a tactile interval, such that a hapticfeedback function may be performed in an image displayed on a displaypanel.

FIG. 4 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2. In FIG. 4, amplitudes of tactilevoltages applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn aregreater than amplitudes of touch driving voltages applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. In FIG. 4, amplitudes of touchsensing voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn are less than amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a vertical blanking interval, during whichan image is not displayed on a display panel, includes a touch intervaland a tactile interval. The tactile interval includes a first tactileframe interval and a second tactile frame interval.

In the touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted from thetouch voltage applying part 122 and sequentially applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, respectively, and touch sensingvoltage of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are collectedby the sensing voltage collecting part 124. In an exemplary embodiment,the sensing voltage collecting part 124 applies a voltage of apredetermined level to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snduring a time when all of the touch driving voltages are applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn to collect the touch sensingvoltage. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when a first sensingvoltage collected through a first touch sensing line S1 is great orequal to the predetermined level, it may determine that a touch occurson the first touch sensing line S1.

In the first tactile frame interval, a first tactile voltage is appliedto each of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn at the same timing.

In the second tactile frame interval, a second tactile voltage having aphase opposite to the first tactile voltage is applied to each of thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing linesS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn at the same timing.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis applied to the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines at thesame timing in a first tactile frame interval of a vertical blankinginterval, and a second tactile voltage having a phase opposite to thefirst tactile voltage is applied to the touch driving lines and thetouch sensing lines at the same timing in a second tactile frameinterval of the vertical blanking interval, such that a haptic feedbackfunction is performed for an image displayed on a display panel.

FIG. 5 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, in anexemplary embodiment, the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than theamplitudes of touch driving voltages applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. In such an embodiment, the amplitudes of touchsensing voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn are less than the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, a touch frame interval includes a firsttactile frame interval and a second tactile frame interval.

In the touch frame interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted fromthe touch voltage applying part 122 and sequentially applied to each ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 124. In anexemplary embodiment, the sensing voltage collecting part 124 applies avoltage of a predetermine level to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, .. . , Sn to collect the touch sensing voltage at a time when a touchdriving voltage is applied. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, avoltage of a predetermined level is continuously applied to all of thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn by a time when a touchdriving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . ., Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. Thus, when afirst sensing voltage collected through a first touch sensing line S1 isgreater than or equal to the voltage of the predetermined level, it maydetermine that a touch occurs on the first touch sensing line S1.

In the first tactile frame interval, a first tactile voltage issequentially applied to the touch driving voltages D1, D2, D3, . . . ,Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn after a touchdriving voltage is applied. A time when the first tactile voltages areapplied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn does not overlap a time when thetouch driving voltage is applied or a time when the touch sensingvoltage is applied.

In the second tactile frame interval, a second tactile voltage having aphase opposite to the first tactile voltage is sequentially applied tothe touch driving voltages D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn before a touch driving voltage is applied.A time when the second tactile voltages are applied to the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . .. , Sn does not overlap a time when the touch driving voltage is appliedto the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn or a time when thetouch sensing voltage is applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3,. . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a tactile voltage issimultaneously applied to all of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . .. , Dn and all of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In analternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be locallyapplied in accordance with an area where a touch occurs.

In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when the sensing voltagecollecting part 124 collects the touch sensing voltage, the timingcontrol part 160 may determine that a touch occurs at a position. Insuch an embodiment, the timing control part 160 provides the tactilevoltage applying part 126 with information for the position of thetouch. The tactile voltage applying part 126 applies a tactile voltageto a touch driving line in a portion corresponding to the position ofthe touch and a touch sensing line in the portion corresponding to theposition of the touch. In such an embodiment, the number of the touchdriving lines in the portion corresponding to the position of the touchmay be greater than two. In such an embodiment, the number of the touchsensing lines in the portion corresponding to the position of the touchmay be greater than two.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis applied to the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines in afirst tactile frame interval in a touch frame interval when a touchdriving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines and a secondtactile voltage having a phase opposite to the first tactile voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines in asecond tactile frame interval in the touch frame interval, such that ahaptic feedback function is performed for an image displayed on adisplay panel.

FIG. 6 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2. In an exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 6, the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than the amplitudes oftouch driving voltages applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, .. . , Dn. In such an embodiment, the amplitudes of touch sensingvoltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn areless than the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, in an odd-numbered vertical blankinginterval, during which an image is not displayed on the display panel,e.g., the vertical blanking interval of the second frame, a touchdriving voltage is outputted from the touch voltage applying part 122and sequentially applied to each of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3,. . . , Dn, and the touch sensing voltages corresponding to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are collected by the sensingvoltage collecting part 124. In such an embodiment, a first tactilevoltage is sequentially applied to each of the touch driving lines D1,D2, D3, . . . , Dn and each of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . ., Sn, in a time when the touch driving voltage is not applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing voltageis not collected.

In an even-numbered vertical blanking interval, e.g., the verticalblanking interval of the first frame, a touch driving voltage isoutputted from the touch voltage applying part 122 and sequentiallyapplied to each of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, andthe touch sensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part124. In such an embodiment, a second tactile voltage having a phaseopposite to the first tactile voltage is sequentially applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing linesS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn, during a time when the touch driving voltage isnot applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and thetouch sensing voltage is not collected.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the sensing voltagecollecting part 124 applies a voltage of a predetermined level to thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn during a time when a touchdriving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . ., Dn. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, a voltage of apredetermined level is continuously applied to all of the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn during a time when a touch driving voltageis applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. Thus, whena first sensing voltage collected through a first touch sensing line S1is greater than or equal to the voltage of the predetermined level, itmay determine that a touch occurs on the first touch sensing line S1.

As shown in FIG. 6, a tactile voltage is sequentially applied to all ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and all of the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In an alternative exemplaryembodiment, the tactile voltage may be locally applied in accordancewith an area where a touch occurs.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis sequentially applied thereto in an odd-numbered vertical blankinginterval, during which an image is not displayed on the display panel,and a second tactile voltage having a phase opposite to the firsttactile voltage is sequentially applied thereto in an even-numberedvertical blanking interval, during which an image is not displayed onthe display panel, such that a haptic feedback function is performed foran image displayed on a display panel.

FIG. 7 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 7, in anexemplary embodiment, the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than theamplitudes of touch driving voltages applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. In such an embodiment, the amplitudes of touchsensing voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn are less than the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, two touch frame intervals (i.e., a firsttouch frame interval and a second touch frame interval) may correspondto a tactile frame interval. A tactile voltage is applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn before a touch driving voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn in a firsttouch frame interval, and a tactile voltage is applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn after a touch driving voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn in a secondtouch frame interval.

In the first touch frame interval, a touch driving voltage is outputtedfrom the touch voltage applying part 122 and sequentially applied toeach of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touchsensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, .. . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 124. Insuch an embodiment, a tactile voltage is applied to the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . .. , Sn before a touch driving voltage is applied to the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn.

In the second touch frame interval, a touch driving voltage is outputtedfrom the touch voltage applying part 122 and sequentially applied toeach of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touchsensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, .. . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 124. Insuch an embodiment, a tactile voltage is applied to the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . .. , Sn after a touch driving voltage is applied to the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the sensing voltagecollecting part 124 applies a voltage of a predetermined level to thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn during a time when a touchdriving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . ., Dn to collect the touch sensing voltage. In one exemplary embodiment,for example, a voltage of a predetermined level is continuously appliedto all of touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn during a time whena touch driving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2,D3, . . . , Dn. Thus, when a first sensing voltage collected through afirst touch sensing line S1 is greater than or equal to the voltage ofthe predetermined level, it may determine that a touch occurs on thefirst touch sensing line S1.

As shown in FIG. 7, a tactile voltage is applied to all of the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and all of the touch sensing linesS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, thetactile voltage may be locally applied in accordance with an area wherea touch occurs.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a tactile frame intervalis set to include two touch frame intervals, a tactile voltage issequentially applied to the touch driving lines and the touch sensinglines before a touch driving voltage is applied to the touch drivinglines in a first touch frame interval, of the two touch frame intervalsand a tactile voltage is sequentially applied to the touch driving linesand the touch sensing lines after a touch driving voltage is applied tothe touch driving lines in a second touch frame interval of the twotouch frame intervals, such that a haptic feedback function is performedfor an image displayed on a display panel.

FIG. 8 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 8, in anexemplary embodiment, the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than theamplitudes of touch driving voltages applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. In such an embodiment, the amplitudes of touchsensing voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn are less than the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 8, in a (4N−3)-th touch frame interval (here,‘N’ is a natural number), e.g., a touch frame interval in a first frame,a touch driving voltage is outputted from the touch voltage applyingpart 122 and sequentially applied to each of the touch driving lines D1,D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensing voltages corresponding to thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are collected by the sensingvoltage collecting part 124. In the (4N−3)-th touch frame interval, afirst tactile voltage is sequentially applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn in another time different from a time when a touch sensing voltage issensed from each of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In a (4N−2)-th touch frame interval, e.g., a touch frame interval in asecond frame, a touch driving voltage is outputted from the touchvoltage applying part 122 and sequentially applied to each of the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensing voltagescorresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn arecollected by the sensing voltage collecting part 124. In the (4N−2)-thtouch frame interval, the first tactile voltage is not applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing linesS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In a (4N−1)-th touch frame interval, e.g., a touch frame interval in athird frame, a touch driving voltage is outputted from the touch voltageapplying part 122 and sequentially applied to each of the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensing voltagescorresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn arecollected by the sensing voltage collecting part 124. In the (4N−1)-thtouch frame interval, a second tactile voltage having a phase oppositeto the first tactile voltage is sequentially applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2,S3, . . . , Sn in another time different from a time when a touchsensing voltage is sensed from each of the touch sensing lines S1, S2,S3, . . . , Sn.

In a 4N-th touch frame interval, e.g., a touch frame interval in afourth frame (not shown in FIG. 6), a touch driving voltage is outputtedfrom the touch voltage applying part 122 and sequentially applied toeach of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touchsensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, .. . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 124. Inthe 4N-th touch frame interval, the second tactile voltage is notapplied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the sensing voltagecollecting part 124 applies a voltage of a predetermined level to thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn during a time when a touchdriving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . ., Dn. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, a voltage of apredetermined level is continuously applied to all of the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn during a time when a touch driving voltageis applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. Thus, whena first sensing voltage collected through a first touch sensing line S1is greater than or equal to the voltage of the predetermined level, itmay determine that a touch occurs on the first touch sensing line S1.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, tactile voltages aresequentially applied to the touch driving lines and the touch sensinglines in second and fourth touch frame intervals, and tactile voltagesare sequentially applied to the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines in first and third touch frame intervals, such that ahaptic feedback function is performed for an image displayed on adisplay panel.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an alternative exemplary embodiment ofa touch screen apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 9, an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touchscreen apparatus 200 according to the invention includes a tactile touchpanel 210, a voltage transmitting/receiving part 220, a display panel230, a data driving part 240, a scan driving part 250 and a timingcontrol part 260.

The tactile touch panel 210 includes a plurality of touch driving lines212 and a plurality of touch sensing lines 214 to perform a touchfunction and a haptic feedback function. The touch driving lines 212 mayextend substantially parallel to a Y-axis and arranged in an X-axis. Thetouch sensing lines 214 may extend substantially parallel to an X-axisand arranged in a Y-axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the touch drivinglines 212 has an ITO pattern structure of a bar shape. In such anembodiment, the touch sensing lines 214 has an ITO pattern structure ofa bar shape. A size of each of the touch driving lines 212 may begreater than a size of each of the touch sensing lines 214.

Each of the touch driving lines 212 is connected to a touch voltageapplying part 222 through a driving router (not shown). Each of thetouch driving lines 212 receives a touch driving voltage from the touchvoltage applying part 222 through the driving router.

Each of the touch sensing lines 214 is connected to a sensing collectingpart 224 through a sensing router (not shown). Each of the touch sensinglines 214 deliveries a touch sensing voltage to the sensing voltagecollecting part 224 through the sensing router.

Each of the touch driving lines 212 may include an ITO pattern, e.g., asingle ITO pattern, which extends substantially parallel to the Y-axis.In an alternative exemplary embodiment, each of the touch driving lines212 may include a plurality of ITO patterns.

In an exemplary embodiment, where each of the touch driving lines 212includes a single ITO pattern, each of the touch sensing lines 214 isconfigured to include a plurality of ITO patterns disposed in adjacentto the touch driving lines 212, respectively.

In an exemplary embodiment, where each of the touch driving lines 212includes the plurality of ITO patterns, each of the touch sensing lines214 may be configured to include a plurality of ITO patterns to bedisposed in adjacent to each of the touch driving lines 212 in a zigzagshape. In such an embodiment, each of the touch driving lines 212disposed in X-axis and each of the touch sensing lines 214 disposed inY-axis may be disposed in a zigzag shape.

The voltage transmitting/receiving part 220 includes the touch voltageapplying part 222, the sensing voltage collecting part 224 and a tactilevoltage applying part 226 to be connected to the tactile touch panel 210and the timing control part 260, respectively.

The touch voltage applying part 222 is connected to the touch drivinglines 212, respectively, to apply a touch driving voltage to the touchdriving lines 212.

The sensing voltage collecting part 222 is connected to the touchsensing lines 214, respectively, to receive a touch sensing voltage. Thesensing voltage collecting part 222 provides the timing control part 260with the received touch sensing voltage.

The tactile voltage applying part 226 is connected to each of the touchdriving lines 212 and the touch sensing lines 214 and applies a tactilevoltage corresponding to an image displayed on the display panel 230 tothe touch driving lines 212 and the touch sensing lines 214 in ablanking interval when a touch driving voltage is not applied to thetouch driving lines 212.

The blanking interval may be a vertical blanking interval of an image.The tactile voltage may be greater than a touch driving voltage. In oneexemplary embodiment, for example, when an image displayed on thedisplay panel 230 is an image having an uneven texture, the tactilevoltage applying part 226 provides the touch driving lines 212 and thetouch sensing lines 214 with a tactile voltage having a first level. Thetactile voltage may be applied in an alternating manner to increase ahaptic feedback effect. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, afirst tactile voltage having a first phase may be applied to the touchdriving lines 212 and the touch sensing lines 214 in a first blankinginterval, and a second tactile voltage having a second phase opposite tothe first phase may be applied to the touch driving lines 212 and thetouch sensing lines 214 in a second blanking interval.

The tactile voltage applying part 226 and the touch voltage applyingpart 222 operate in different timings. Operations of the touch voltageapplying part 222 and the tactile voltage applying part 226 may becontrolled by the timing control part 260.

The display panel 230 is disposed below the tactile touch panel 210. Thedisplay panel 230 is substantially the same as the display panel 130described with reference to FIG. 2, and thus any repetitive detaileddescription thereof will hereinafter be omitted.

Each of the data driving part 240 and the scan driving part 250 issubstantially the same as the data driving part 140 and the scan drivingpart 150 described with reference to FIG. 2, and thus any repetitivedetailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted.

In an exemplary embodiment, the timing control part 260 provides thedata driving part 240 with an image data for displaying an image on thedisplay panel 230 and a first control signal corresponding to the imagedata, and provides the scan driving part 250 with a second controlsignal for activating a switching element disposed on the display panel230. In an exemplary embodiment, the timing control part 260 providesthe touch voltage applying part 222 with a third control signal forperforming a touch function, and receives a touch sensing voltageprovided from the sensing voltage collecting part 224. In an exemplaryembodiment, the timing control part 260 provides the tactile voltageapplying part 226 with a fourth control signal for performing a hapticfeedback function.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen apparatus 200 may furtherinclude a shielding layer 270. The shielding layer 270 is disposedbetween the tactile touch panel 210 and the display pane 230 and blocksthat the tactile voltage outputted from the tactile voltage applyingpart 226 to be applied to the display panel 230.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the shielding layer 270 maydisposed within the display panel 230. In an exemplary embodiment, wherethe display panel 230 is a liquid crystal display panel including anarray substrate, an opposite substrate opposite to the array substrateand a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate andthe opposite substrate, the shielding layer 270 may be disposed on theopposite substrate. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, theshielding layer 270 may be disposed on the array substrate.

Hereinafter, the timings of exemplary embodiments of the touch drivingvoltage and a tactile voltage applied to the tactile touch panel 210described in FIG. 9 will be described. In the following signal timingdiagrams, D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn denote the touch driving lines, and S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn denote the touch sensing lines, where n is a naturalnumber.

FIG. 10 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 10, in an exemplary embodiment,the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than the amplitudes of touch drivingvoltages applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. Insuch an embodiment, the amplitudes of touch sensing voltages applied tothe touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are less than theamplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, an odd-numbered vertical blanking interval,which follows an odd-numbered frame when an image is not displayed onthe display panel, includes a first touch interval and a first tactileinterval, and an even-numbered vertical blanking interval, which followsan even-numbered frame when the an image is not displayed on the displaypanel, includes a second touch interval and a second tactile interval.

In the first touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted fromthe touch voltage applying part 222 and sequentially applied to each ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 224. In anexemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, two touch sensing linescorrespond to one touch driving line. In such an embodiment, the sensingvoltage collecting part 224 simultaneously collects touch sensingvoltages from a first touch sensing line S1 and a second touch sensingline S2 to collect a touch sensing voltage corresponding to a touchdriving voltage applied to a first touch driving line D1. In such anembodiment, the sensing voltage collecting part 224 simultaneouslycollects touch sensing voltages from a third touch sensing line S3 and afourth touch sensing line S4 to collect a touch sensing voltagecorresponding to a touch driving voltage applied to a second touchdriving line D2.

In the first tactile interval, a first tactile voltage is simultaneouslyapplied to each of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn andthe touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In the second touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted fromthe touch voltage applying part 222 and sequentially applied to each ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 224.

In the second tactile interval, a second tactile voltage having anopposite to the first tactile voltage is simultaneously applied to eachof the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, a tactile voltage issimultaneously applied to all of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . .. , Dn and all of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In analternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be locallyapplied in accordance with an area where a touch occurs.

In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when the sensing voltagecollecting part 224 collects the touch sensing voltage, the timingcontrol part 260 may determine that a touch occurs at a position. Insuch an embodiment, the timing control part 260 provides the tactilevoltage applying part 226 with information for the position of thetouch. The tactile voltage applying part 226 applies a tactile voltageto a touch driving line in a portion corresponding to the position ofthe touch and a touch sensing line in the portion corresponding to theposition of the touch. In such an embodiment, the number of the touchdriving lines in the portion corresponding to the position of the touchmay be greater than two. In such an embodiment, the number of the touchsensing lines in the portion corresponding to the position of the touchmay be greater than two.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis simultaneously applied to the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines in a first tactile interval of an odd-numbered touch frameinterval, and a second tactile voltage having a phase opposite to thefirst tactile voltage is applied to the touch driving lines and thetouch sensing lines in a second tactile interval of an even-numberedtouch frame interval, such that a haptic feedback function is performedfor an image displayed on a display panel.

FIG. 11 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 9. In an exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 11, the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than theamplitudes of touch driving voltages applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. In such an embodiment, the amplitudes of touchsensing voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn are less than the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 11, a vertical blanking interval, during whichan image is not displayed on a display panel, includes a touch intervaland a tactile interval. The tactile interval includes a first tactileframe interval and a second tactile frame interval.

In the touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted from thetouch voltage applying part 222 and sequentially applied to each of thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 224. In anexemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, two touch sensing linescorrespond to one touch driving line. In such an embodiment, the sensingvoltage collecting part 224 simultaneously collects touch sensingvoltages from a first touch sensing line S1 and a second touch sensingline S1 collect a touch sensing voltage corresponding to a touch drivingvoltage applied to a first touch driving line D1. In such an embodiment,the sensing voltage collecting part 224 simultaneously collects touchsensing voltages from a third touch sensing line S3 and a fourth touchsensing line S4 to collect a touch sensing voltage corresponding to atouch driving voltage applied to a second touch driving line D2.

In the first tactile frame interval, a first tactile voltage issequentially applied to each of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . .. , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In the second tactile frame interval, a second tactile voltage having aphase opposite to the first tactile voltage is sequentially applied toeach of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis sequentially applied to the touch driving lines and the touch sensinglines in a first tactile frame interval of a vertical blanking interval,and a second tactile voltage having a phase opposite to the firsttactile voltage is sequentially applied to the touch driving lines andthe touch sensing lines in a second tactile frame interval of a verticalblanking interval, such that a haptic feedback function is performed foran image displayed on a display panel.

FIG. 12 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 9. In an exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 12, the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than theamplitudes of touch driving voltages applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. In such an embodiment, the amplitudes of touchsensing voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn are less than the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 12, in an odd-numbered touch frame interval, atouch driving voltage is outputted from the touch voltage applying part222 and sequentially applied to each of the touch driving lines D1, D2,D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensing voltages corresponding to thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are collected by the sensingvoltage collecting part 224. In such an embodiment, first tactilevoltages are sequentially applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3,. . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. A timewhen the first tactile voltages are applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn does not overlap a time when the touch driving voltage is applied tothe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn or a time when the touchsensing voltage is applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . ., Sn.

In an even-numbered touch frame interval, a touch driving voltage isoutputted from the touch voltage applying part 222 and sequentiallyapplied to each of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, andthe touch sensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part224. In such an embodiment, second tactile voltages having a phaseopposite to the first tactile voltage are sequentially applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing linesS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. A time when the second tactile voltages areapplied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn does not overlap a time when thetouch driving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3,. . . , Dn or a time when the touch sensing voltage is applied to thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, two touch sensing linescorrespond to one touch driving line. In such an embodiment, the sensingvoltage collecting part 224 simultaneously collects touch sensingvoltages from a first touch sensing line S1 and a second touch sensingline S2 to collect a touch sensing voltage corresponding to a touchdriving voltage applied to a first touch driving line D1. In such anembodiment, the sensing voltage collecting part 224 simultaneouslycollects touch sensing voltages from a third touch sensing line S3 and afourth touch sensing line S4 to collect a touch sensing voltagecorresponding to a touch driving voltage applied to a second touchdriving line D2.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a tactile voltage issimultaneously applied to all of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . .. , Dn and all of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In analternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be locallyapplied in accordance with an area where a touch occurs.

In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when the sensing voltagecollecting part 224 collects the touch sensing voltage, the timingcontrol part 260 may determine that a touch occurs at a position. Insuch an embodiment, the timing control part 260 provides the tactilevoltage applying part 226 with information for the position of thetouch. The tactile voltage applying part 226 applies a tactile voltageto a touch driving line in a portion corresponding to the position ofthe touch and a touch sensing line in the portion corresponding to theposition of the touch. In such an embodiment, the number of the touchdriving lines in the portion corresponding to the position of the touchmay be greater than two. In such an embodiment, the number of the touchsensing line in the portion corresponding to the position of the touchmay be greater than two.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis simultaneously applied to the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines in an odd-numbered touch frame interval, and a secondtactile voltage having a phase opposite to the first tactile voltage isapplied to the touch sensing lines in an even-numbered touch frameinterval, such that a haptic feedback function is performed for an imagedisplayed on a display panel.

FIG. 13 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 9. As shown in FIG. 13, in anexemplary embodiment, the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than theamplitudes of touch driving voltages applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. In such an embodiment, the amplitudes of touchsensing voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . ,Sn are less than the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 13, an odd numbered vertical blanking interval,which follows an odd numbered frame when an image is not displayed onthe display panel, includes a first touch interval and a first tactileinterval, and an even numbered vertical blanking interval, which followsan even numbered frame when the an image is not displayed on the displaypanel, includes a second touch interval and a second tactile interval.

In the first touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted fromthe touch voltage applying part 222 and sequentially applied to each ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare simultaneously collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 224.

In the first tactile interval, a first tactile voltage is simultaneouslyapplied to each of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn andthe touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In the second touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted fromthe touch voltage applying part 222 and sequentially applied to each ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare simultaneously collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 224.

In the second tactile interval, a second tactile voltage having anopposite to the first tactile voltage is simultaneously applied to eachof the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a tactile voltage issimultaneously applied to all of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . .. , Dn and all of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In analternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be locallyapplied in accordance with an area where a touch occurs.

In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when the sensing voltagecollecting part 224 collects the touch sensing voltage, the timingcontrol part 260 may determine that a touch occurs at a position. Insuch an embodiment, the timing control part 260 provides the tactilevoltage applying part 226 with information for the position of thetouch. The tactile voltage applying part 226 applies a tactile voltageto a touch driving line in a portion corresponding to the position ofthe touch and a touch sensing line in the portion corresponding to theposition of the touch. In such an embodiment, the number of the touchdriving lines in the portion corresponding to the position of the touchmay be greater than two. In such an embodiment, the number of the touchsensing lines in the portion corresponding to the position of the touchmay be greater than two.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis simultaneously applied to the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines in a first tactile interval of an odd numbered touch frameinterval, and a second tactile voltage having a phase opposite to thefirst tactile voltage is applied to the touch driving lines and thetouch sensing lines in a second tactile interval of an even numberedtouch frame interval, such that a haptic feedback function is performedfor an image displayed on a display panel.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an alternative exemplary embodimentof a touch screen apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14, an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touchscreen apparatus according to the invention includes a tactile touchpanel 1210, a voltage transmitting/receiving part 220, a display panel230, a data driving part 240, a scan driving part 250 and a timingcontrol part 260. The display panel 230, the data driving part 240, thescan driving part 250 and the timing control part 260 are substantiallythe same as the display panel 230, the data driving part 240, the scandriving part 250 and the timing control part 260 described withreference to FIG. 9, and thus any repetitive detailed explanation mayhereinafter be omitted.

The tactile touch panel 1210 includes a plurality of touch driving lines1212 and a plurality of touch sensing patterns 1214 to perform a touchfunction and a haptic feedback function. The touch driving lines 1212may extend substantially parallel to a Y-axis and arranged in an X-axis.The touch sensing patterns 1214 may extend substantially parallel to anX-axis and arranged in a Y-axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the touchdriving lines 1212 has an ITO pattern structure of a bar shape. In suchan embodiment, the touch sensing patterns 1214 has an ITO patternstructure to be disposed adjacent to one touch driving line. That is,the touch driving lines and the touch sensing patterns are arranged inone-to-plural correspondence.

Each of the touch driving lines 1212 is connected to a touch voltageapplying part 222 through a driving router (not shown). Each of thetouch driving lines 1212 receives a touch driving voltage from the touchvoltage applying part 222 through the driving router.

Each of the touch sensing patterns 1214 is connected to a sensingcollecting part 224 through a sensing router (not shown). Each of thetouch sensing patterns 1214 deliveries a touch sensing voltage to thesensing voltage collecting part 224 through the sensing router.

The voltage transmitting/receiving part 220 includes the touch voltageapplying part 222, the sensing voltage collecting part 224 and a tactilevoltage applying part 226 to be connected to the tactile touch panel1210 and the timing control part 270, respectively.

The touch voltage applying part 222 is connected to the touch drivinglines 1212, respectively, to apply a touch driving voltage to the touchdriving lines 1212.

The sensing voltage collecting part 222 is connected to the touchsensing lines 214, respectively, to receive a touch sensing voltage. Thesensing voltage collecting part 222 provides the timing control part 260with the received touch sensing voltage.

The tactile voltage applying part 226 is connected to each of the touchdriving lines 1212 and the touch sensing patterns 1214 and applies atactile voltage corresponding to an image displayed on the display panel230 to the touch driving lines 1212 and the touch sensing patterns 1214in a blanking interval when a touch driving voltage is not applied tothe touch driving lines 1212.

The tactile voltage applying part 226 and the touch voltage applyingpart 222 operate in different timings. Operations of the touch voltageapplying part 222 and the tactile voltage applying part 226 may becontrolled by the timing control part 260.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen apparatus may furtherinclude a shielding layer 270. The shielding layer 270 was described inFIG. 9, and thus any further explanation with be omitted.

Hereinafter, the timing of exemplary embodiment of the touch drivingvoltage, the touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage applied to thetactile touch panel 1210 described in FIG. 14 will be described. In thefollowing signal timing diagrams, D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn denote thetouch driving lines, and S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn denote the touch sensinglines, where n is a natural number.

FIG. 15 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 15, in an exemplary embodiment,the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch driving linesD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than the amplitudes of touch drivingvoltages applied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn. Insuch an embodiment, the amplitudes of touch sensing voltages applied tothe touch sensing patterns 51, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are less than theamplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch sensing patterns 51,S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, a vertical blanking interval when an imageis not displayed on the display panel includes a touch interval and atactile interval.

In the touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted from thetouch voltage applying part 222 and sequentially applied to each of thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and a touch sensing voltagescorresponding to the touch sensing patterns S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn arecollected by the sensing voltage collecting part 224. In FIG. 14, threetouch driving lines are disposed, and plural touch sensing patterns aredisposed adjacent to the touch driving line. Thus, touch sensingvoltages are simultaneously collected from touch sensing patternscorresponding to first line. Then, touch sensing voltages aresimultaneously collected from touch sensing patterns corresponding tosecond line. Then, touch sensing voltages are simultaneously collectedfrom touch sensing patterns corresponding to third line. In this way,touch sensing voltages are simultaneously collected from touch sensingpatterns corresponding to the last line.

In the tactile interval, a touch driving voltage and a touch sensingvoltages are inactivated. Here, a tactile voltage is applied to a touchsensing pattern corresponding to a first row and first column when atouch occurs in the first row and first column, and a tactile voltage isapplied to a touch sensing pattern corresponding to a third row andsecond column when a touch occurs in the third row and second column.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a touch driving voltageis applied to the touch sensing pattern where a touch occurs during atactile interval of a vertical blanking interval, such that a hapticfeedback function may be performed in an image displayed on a displaypanel.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing an alternative exemplary embodimentof a touch screen apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 16, an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touchscreen apparatus according to the invention includes a tactile touchpanel 2210, a voltage transmitting/receiving part 220, a display panel230, a data driving part 240, a scan driving part 250 and a timingcontrol part 260. The display panel 230, the data driving part 240, thescan driving part 250 and the timing control part 260 are substantiallythe same as the display panel 230, the data driving part 240, the scandriving part 250 and the timing control part 260 described withreference to FIG. 9, and thus any repetitive detailed explanation mayhereinafter be omitted.

The tactile touch panel 2210 includes a plurality of touch sensing lines2212 and a plurality of touch driving patterns 2214 to perform a touchfunction and a haptic feedback function. The touch sensing lines 2212may extend substantially parallel to a Y-axis and arranged in an X-axis.The touch driving patterns 2214 may extend substantially parallel to anX-axis and arranged in a Y-axis. In an exemplary embodiment, the touchsensing lines 2212 has an ITO pattern structure of a bar shape. In suchan embodiment, the touch driving patterns 2214 has an ITO patternstructure to be disposed adjacent to one touch sensing line. That is,the touch sensing lines and the touch driving patterns are arranged inone-to-plural correspondence.

Each of the touch sensing lines 2212 is connected to a sensingcollecting part 224 through a sensing router (not shown). Each of thetouch sensing lines 2212 deliveries a touch sensing voltage to thesensing voltage collecting part 224 through the sensing router.

Each of the touch driving patterns 2214 is connected to a touch voltageapplying part 222 through a driving router (not shown). Each of thetouch driving patterns 2214 receives a touch driving voltage from thetouch voltage applying part 222 through the driving router.

The voltage transmitting/receiving part 220 includes the touch voltageapplying part 222, the sensing voltage collecting part 224 and a tactilevoltage applying part 226 to be connected to the tactile touch panel 210and the timing control part 270, respectively.

The touch voltage applying part 222 is connected to the touch drivingpatterns 2214, respectively, to apply a touch driving voltage to thetouch driving patterns 2214.

The sensing voltage collecting part 222 is connected to the touchsensing lines 2212, respectively, to receive a touch sensing voltage.The sensing voltage collecting part 222 provides the timing control part260 with the received touch sensing voltage.

The tactile voltage applying part 226 is connected to each of the touchsensing lines 2212 and the touch driving patterns 2214 and applies atactile voltage corresponding to an image displayed on the display panel230 to the touch sensing lines 2212 and the touch driving patterns 2214in a blanking interval when a touch driving voltage is not applied tothe touch driving patterns 2214.

The tactile voltage applying part 226 and the touch voltage applyingpart 222 operate in different timings. Operations of the touch voltageapplying part 222 and the tactile voltage applying part 226 may becontrolled by the timing control part 260.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen apparatus may furtherinclude a shielding layer 270. The shielding layer 270 was described inFIG. 9, and thus any further explanation with be omitted.

Hereinafter, the timing of exemplary embodiment of the touch drivingvoltage, the touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage applied to thetactile touch panel 2210 described in FIG. 16 will be described. In thefollowing signal timing diagrams, S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn denote thetouch sensing lines, and D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn denote the touch drivingpatterns, where n is a natural number.

FIG. 17 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 16. As shown in FIG. 17, in an exemplary embodiment,the amplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch driving patternsD1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn are greater than the amplitudes of touch drivingvoltages applied to the touch driving patterns D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn.In such an embodiment, the amplitudes of touch sensing voltages appliedto the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are less than theamplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch driving patterns D1,D2, D3, . . . , Dn.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a vertical blanking interval when an imageis not displayed on the display panel includes a touch interval and atactile interval.

In the touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted from thetouch voltage applying part 222 and sequentially applied to each of thetouch driving patterns D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn in a line and a touchsensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, .. . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 224. InFIG. 16, n touch sensing lines are disposed, and plural touch drivingpatterns are disposed in correspondence with each of the touch sensinglines.

Thus, a touch driving voltage is simultaneously applied to the touchdriving patterns corresponding to first line. Then, a touch drivingvoltage is simultaneously applied to the touch driving patternscorresponding to second line. Then, a touch driving voltage issimultaneously applied to the touch driving patterns corresponding tothird line. In this way, touch driving voltage is simultaneously appliedto the touch driving patterns corresponding to the last line.

In the tactile interval, a touch driving voltage and a touch sensingvoltages are inactivated. Here, a tactile voltage is applied to a touchdriving pattern corresponding to a first row and first column when atouch occurs in the first row and first column, and a tactile voltage isapplied to a touch driving pattern corresponding to a third row andsecond column when a touch occurs in the third row and second column.The tactile voltage may be also applied to the touch driving pattern ina tactile interval of next frame.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a tactile voltage isapplied to the touch driving pattern where a touch occurs during atactile interval of a vertical blanking interval, such that a hapticfeedback function may be performed in an image displayed on a displaypanel.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing another alternative exemplaryembodiment of a touch screen apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 18, an exemplary embodiment of a touch screenapparatus 300 according to the invention includes a tactile touch panel310, a touch voltage applying part 320, a voltage transmitting/receivingpart 330, a display panel 340, a data driving part 350, a scan drivingpart 360 and a timing control part 370.

The tactile touch panel 310 includes a first substrate 312 and a secondsubstrate 314 disposed on the first substrate 312 to perform a touchfunction and a haptic feedback function.

A plurality of touch driving lines 313 is disposed on the firstsubstrate 312. The touch driving lines 313 extend substantially parallelto X-axis and arranged in a Y-axis direction. The touch driving lines313 may have an ITO pattern structure of a bar shape.

A plurality of touch sensing lines 315 is disposed on the secondsubstrate 314. The touch sensing lines 315 extend substantially parallelto Y-axis and arranged in an X-axis direction. The touch sensing lines315 may have an ITO pattern structure of a bar shape. When viewed from aplan view, the touch driving lines 313 and the touch sensing lines 315may cross each other.

The touch voltage applying part 320 is connected to the touch drivinglines 313 and applies a touch driving voltage to each of the touchdriving lines 313.

The voltage transmitting/receiving part 330 includes a sensing voltagecollecting part 332 and a tactile voltage applying part 334.

The sensing voltage collecting part 332 is connected to the touchsensing lines 315 and receives touch sensing voltages. The sensingvoltage collecting part 332 provides the timing control part 370 withthe received touch sensing voltages.

The tactile voltage applying part 334 is connected to the touch sensinglines 315 and applies a tactile voltage corresponding to an imagedisplayed on the display panel 340 to the touch sensing lines 315 in ablanking interval when a touch driving voltage is not applied to thetouch sensing lines 315. The tactile voltage may be a voltage greaterthan a touch driving voltage. In one exemplary embodiment, for example,when the image displayed on the display panel 340 is an image of uneventexture, the tactile voltage applying part 334 provides the touchsensing lines 315 with a tactile voltage having first amplitude.

The display panel 340 is disposed below the tactile touch panel 310. Thedisplay panel 340 is substantially the same as the display panel 130described with reference to FIG. 2, and thus any repetitive detaileddescription thereof will hereinafter be omitted.

Each of the data driving part 350 and the scan driving part 360 issubstantially the same as the data driving part 140 and the scan drivingpart 150 described with reference to FIG. 2, and thus any repetitivedetailed description thereof will hereinafter be omitted.

The timing control part 370 provides the data driving part 350 with animage data for displaying an image on the display panel 340 and a firstcontrol signal corresponding to the image data, and provides the scandriving part 360 with a second control signal for activating a switchingelement disposed on the display panel 340. In such an embodiment, thetiming control part 370 provides the touch voltage applying part 320with a third control signal for performing a touch function, andreceives a touch sensing voltage provided from the sensing voltagecollecting part 332. In such an embodiment, the timing control part 370provides the tactile voltage applying part 334 with a fourth controlsignal for performing a haptic feedback function.

In an exemplary embodiment, the touch screen apparatus 300 may furtherinclude a shielding layer 380. The shielding layer 380 is disposedbetween the tactile touch panel 310 and the display pane 340 and blocksthe tactile voltage outputted from the tactile voltage applying part 334from being applied to the display panel 340.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the shielding layer 380 maydisposed within the display panel 340. In an exemplary embodiment, wherethe display panel 340 is a liquid crystal display panel including anarray substrate, an opposite substrate opposite to the array substrateand a liquid crystal layer interposed between the array substrate andthe opposite substrate, the shielding layer 380 may be disposed on theopposite substrate. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, theshielding layer 380 may be disposed on the array substrate.

Hereinafter, timings of exemplary embodiments of the touch drivingvoltage and a tactile voltage applied to the tactile touch panel 310described in FIG. 18 will be described in detail. In the followingsignal timing diagrams, D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn denote touch drivinglines, and S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn denote touch sensing lines, where n isa natural number.

FIG. 19 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage, a touchsensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touch screen apparatusdescribed in FIG. 18.

Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, an odd-numbered vertical blankinginterval, e.g., the vertical blanking interval (V_BLANK) of the firstframe, when an image is not displayed on a display panel includes afirst touch interval (TOUCH) and a first tactile interval (TACTILE), andan even-numbered vertical blanking interval, e.g., the vertical blankinginterval (V_BLANK) of the second frame, when an image is not displayedon a display panel includes a second touch interval (TOUCH) and a secondtactile interval (TACTILE).

In the first touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted fromthe touch voltage applying part 320 and sequentially applied to each ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332.

In the first tactile interval, a first tactile voltage is simultaneouslyapplied to each of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In the second touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted fromthe touch voltage applying part 320 and sequentially applied to each ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332.

In the second tactile interval, a second tactile voltage having anopposite to the first tactile voltage is simultaneously applied to eachof the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, a tactile voltage isapplied to all of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn. In analternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be locallyapplied in accordance with an area where a touch occurs on the tactiletouch panel 310.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis applied to the touch sensing lines in a tactile interval of anodd-numbered vertical blanking interval, and a second tactile voltagehaving a phase opposite to the first tactile voltage is applied to thetouch sensing lines in a tactile interval of an even-numbered verticalblanking interval, such that a haptic feedback function is performed foran image displayed on a display panel.

FIG. 20 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 18.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 20, a vertical blanking interval, during whichan image is not displayed on a display panel, includes a touch intervaland a tactile interval. The tactile interval includes a first tactileframe interval and a second tactile frame interval.

In the touch interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted from thetouch voltage applying part 320 and sequentially applied to each of thetouch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332.

In the first tactile frame interval, a first tactile voltage is appliedto each of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In the second tactile frame interval, a second tactile voltage having aphase opposite to the first tactile voltage is applied to each of thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, a tactile voltage issimultaneously applied to all of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . .. , Sn. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage maybe locally applied in accordance with an area where a touch occurs onthe tactile touch panel 310.

FIG. 21 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 18. In an exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 21, the amplitudes of touch sensing voltages applied tothe touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are less than theamplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 21, one touch frame interval includes a firsttactile frame interval and a second tactile frame interval.

In the touch frame interval, a touch driving voltage is outputted fromthe touch voltage applying part 320 and sequentially applied to each ofthe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and touch sensingvoltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Snare collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332.

In the first tactile frame interval, a first tactile voltage issequentially applied to each of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . .. , Sn, after the touch driving voltage is applied to the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In the second tactile frame interval, a second tactile voltage having aphase opposite to the first tactile voltage is applied to each of thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn, before the touch drivingvoltage is applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, a tactile voltage issimultaneously applied to all of the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . .. , Sn. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage maybe locally applied in accordance with an area where a touch occurs on atactile touch panel 310.

In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when the sensing voltagecollecting part 332 collects the touch sensing voltage, the timingcontrol part 360 may determine that a touch occurs at a position. Insuch an embodiment, the timing control part 360 provides the tactilevoltage applying part 334 with information for the position of thetouch. The tactile voltage applying part 334 applies a tactile voltageto a touch sensing line in the portion corresponding to the position ofthe touch. In such an embodiment, the number of the touch sensing linesin the portion corresponding to the position of the touch may be greaterthan two.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a first tactile voltageis applied to the touch sensing lines in a first tactile frame intervalof one touch frame interval when a touch driving voltage is applied tothe touch sensing lines, and a second tactile voltage having a phaseopposite to the first tactile voltage is applied to the touch sensinglines in a second tactile frame interval of one touch frame interval,such that a haptic feedback function is performed for an image displayedon a display panel.

FIG. 22 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 18. In an exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 22, the amplitudes of touch sensing voltages applied tothe touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are less than theamplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 22, two touch frame intervals may correspondto one tactile frame interval. A tactile voltage is applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn before a touch driving voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn in a firsttouch frame interval, and a tactile voltage is applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn after a touch driving voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn in a secondtouch frame interval.

In the first touch frame interval, a touch driving voltage is outputtedfrom the touch voltage applying part 320 and sequentially applied toeach of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touchsensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, .. . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332. Insuch an embodiment, a tactile voltage is applied to the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn before a touch driving voltage is appliedthereto.

In the second touch frame interval, a touch driving voltage is outputtedfrom the touch voltage applying part 320 and sequentially applied toeach of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touchsensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, .. . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332. Insuch an embodiment, a tactile voltage is applied to the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn after a touch driving voltage is applied totouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, one tactile frameinterval is set to include two touch frame intervals, a tactile voltageis sequentially applied to the touch sensing lines before a touchdriving voltage is applied to the touch sensing lines in a first touchframe interval, and a tactile voltage is sequentially applied to thetouch sensing lines after a touch driving voltage is applied to thetouch sensing lines in a second touch frame interval, such that a hapticfeedback function is performed for an image displayed on a displaypanel.

FIG. 23 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of another alternative exemplary embodiment of a touch drivingvoltage, a touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage in the touchscreen apparatus described in FIG. 18. In an exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 23, the amplitudes of touch sensing voltages applied tothe touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn are less than theamplitudes of tactile voltages applied to the touch sensing lines S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

Referring to FIGS. 18 and 23, in a (4N−3)-th touch frame interval (here,‘N’ is a natural number), e.g., a touch frame interval in the firstframe, a touch driving voltage is outputted from the touch voltageapplying part 320 and sequentially applied to each of the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensing voltagescorresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn arecollected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332. In such anembodiment, a first tactile voltage is sequentially applied to the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn in another time different from atime when a touch sensing voltage is sensed from each of the touchsensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In a (4N−2)-th touch frame interval, e.g., a touch frame interval in thesecond frame, a touch driving voltage is outputted from the touchvoltage applying part 320 and sequentially applied to each of the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensing voltagescorresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn arecollected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332. In such anembodiment, the first tactile voltage is not applied to the touchdriving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensing lines S1, S2,S3, . . . , Sn.

In a (4N−1)-th touch frame interval, e.g., a touch frame interval in thethird frame, a touch driving voltage is outputted from the touch voltageapplying part 320 and sequentially applied to each of the touch drivinglines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, and the touch sensing voltagescorresponding to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn arecollected by the sensing voltage collecting part 332. In such anembodiment, a second tactile voltage having a phase opposite to thefirst tactile voltage is sequentially applied to the touch sensing linesS1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn in another time different from a time when atouch sensing voltage is sensed from each of the touch sensing lines S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In a (4N)-th touch frame interval, e.g., a touch frame interval in afourth frame (not shown in FIG. 23), a touch driving voltage isoutputted from the touch voltage applying part 320 and sequentiallyapplied to each of the touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn, andthe touch sensing voltages corresponding to the touch sensing lines S1,S2, S3, . . . , Sn are collected by the sensing voltage collecting part332. In such an embodiment, a second tactile voltage is not applied tothe touch driving lines D1, D2, D3, . . . , Dn and the touch sensinglines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23, a first tactile voltageand a second tactile voltage are simultaneously applied to all of thetouch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, . . . , Sn, in an (4N−3)-th touch frameinterval and an (4N−1)-th touch frame interval. In an alternativeexemplary embodiment, the first tactile voltage and the second tactilevoltage may be locally applied to the touch sensing lines S1, S2, S3, .. . , Sn.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, tactile voltages are notapplied to the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines in secondand fourth touch frame intervals, and tactile voltages are sequentiallyapplied to the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines in firstand third touch frame intervals, such that a haptic feedback function isperformed for an image displayed on a display panel.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a vertical blankinginterval, during which an image is not displayed on a display panel,includes a touch interval and a tactile interval. Tactile voltages aresequentially applied to the touch sensing lines in the tactile interval,such that a haptic feedback function is performed for an image displayedon a display panel.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, a vertical blankinginterval, during which an image is not displayed on the display panel,includes a touch interval, a first tactile frame interval and a secondtactile frame interval. Tactile voltages having a phase opposite to eachother are simultaneously applied to the touch sensing lines in the firsttactile frame interval and the second tactile frame interval, such thata haptic feedback function is performed for an image displayed on adisplay panel.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram showing an alternative exemplary embodimentof a touch screen apparatus according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 24, an alternative exemplary embodiment of a touchscreen apparatus according to the invention includes a tactile touchpanel 3210, a voltage transmitting/receiving part 220, a display panel230, a data driving part 240, a scan driving part 250 and a timingcontrol part 260. The voltage transmitting/receiving part 220, thedisplay panel 230, the data driving part 240, the scan driving part 250and the timing control part 260 are substantially the same as thevoltage transmitting/receiving part 220, the display panel 230, the datadriving part 240, the scan driving part 250 and the timing control part260 described with reference to FIG. 9, and thus any repetitive detailedexplanation may hereinafter be omitted.

The tactile touch panel 3210 includes a plurality of sensing patterns3212 disposed in a matrix pattern to perform a touch function and ahaptic feedback function.

Each of the sensing patterns 3212 is connected to a touch voltageapplying part 222 of the voltage transmitting/receiving part 220 toreceive a sensing signal, and is connected to a sensing collecting part224 of the voltage transmitting/receiving part 220. The sensing signalis varied when a touch occurs in a predetermined sensing pattern, and avariation amount of the varied sensing signal is detected by the sensingvoltage collecting part 224 to detect the touched position.

When a touch occurs in a predetermined sensing pattern, a tactilevoltage is applied to the corresponding sensing pattern. The tactilevoltage may be only applied to the sensing pattern where a touch occurs.Alternatively, the tactile voltage may be applied to all of sensingpatterns.

Hereinafter, the timing of exemplary embodiment of the touch drivingvoltage, the touch sensing voltage and a tactile voltage applied to thetactile touch panel 3210 described in FIG. 24 will be described. In thefollowing signal timing diagrams, D1, D2, D3, . . . , D42 denote thesensing patterns.

FIG. 25 is a signal timing diagram showing a transmitting/receivingtiming of an exemplary embodiment of a touch driving voltage and atactile voltage in the touch screen apparatus described in FIG. 24.

Referring to FIGS. 24 and 25, a vertical blanking interval when an imageis not displayed on the display panel includes a touch interval and atactile interval.

In the touch interval, a sensing signal is sequentially applied to firstsensing pattern D1 of first line and to the last sensing pattern D42 oflast line, and a variation amount of the varied sensing signal ismeasured to detect the coordinate of the touched position.

In the tactile interval, when a touch occurs in a predetermined sensingpattern, a tactile voltage is applied to a corresponding sensingpattern. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, when each touchoccurs in second sensing pattern D2 of first line and third sensingpattern D24 of fourth line, respectively, tactile voltages aresimultaneously applied to the second sensing pattern D2 of first lineand the third sensing pattern D24 of fourth line, respectively. Thetactile voltage may be also applied to the touch driving pattern in atactile interval of next frame.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 25, a tactile voltage isonly applied to a predetermined sensing pattern where a touch occurs. Inan alternative exemplary embodiment, the tactile voltage may be appliedto all of sensing patterns.

As described above, in an exemplary embodiment according to theinvention, in a blanking interval when a touch driving voltage is notapplied, a tactile voltage corresponding to a displayed image is appliedto a tactile touch panel to perform a haptic feedback function on atouch screen apparatus of a capacitance type, such that a touchoperation is effectively prevented from being blocked by an electricfield generated by a tactile image.

In an exemplary embodiment, a haptic feedback function is performed by atouch screen apparatus, and thickness or weight of a touch screenapparatus are substantially reduced.

In an exemplary embodiment, a touch panel of a capacitance type, whichhas touch driving lines and touch sensing lines, operates as a tactiletouch panel representing a tactile image, such that a tactile panel fora haptic feedback may be omitted, and a light transmissivity of a touchscreen apparatus is thereby substantially improved.

Having described exemplary embodiments of the invention, it is furthernoted that it is readily apparent to those of reasonable skill in theart that various modifications may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the metes andbounds of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for representing a tactile image andproviding a touch function and a haptic feedback function to a tactiletouch panel, the method comprising: applying a touch driving voltage tothe tactile touch panel; and applying a tactile voltage corresponding toan image to be displayed to the tactile touch panel in a blank interval,during which the touch driving voltage is not applied to a plurality oftouch driving lines of the tactile touch panel, when a touch sensingvoltage corresponding to a touch on the tactile touch panel is receivedthrough a plurality of touch sensing lines of the tactile touch panel.2. The method of claim 1, wherein a phase of the tactile voltage isinverted every frame interval of the image.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the tactile voltage is applied to the tactile touch panel in avertical blanking interval, during which a scan signal for activating aswitching element of a display panel for displaying the image is notapplied to the display panel.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein thevertical blanking interval includes a touch interval and a tactileinterval, and the tactile voltage is applied to the tactile touch panelin the tactile interval.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the tactilevoltage applied in the tactile interval of the vertical blankinginterval has a phase different from a phase of the tactile voltageapplied in the tactile interval of an adjacent vertical blankinginterval.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein a touch frame interval, inwhich the touch driving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines,includes a first tactile frame interval and a second tactile frameinterval, and a phase of the tactile voltage applied in the firsttactile frame interval and a phase of the tactile voltage applied in thesecond tactile frame interval are different from each other.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the touch driving voltage is applied to thetouch driving lines in a touch frame interval, the tactile voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines in a tactile frame interval, twotouch frame intervals correspond to one tactile frame interval, thetactile voltage is applied to the tactile touch panel before the touchdriving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines in a first touchframe interval of the two touch frame intervals, and the tactile voltageis applied to the tactile touch panel after the touch driving voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines in a second touch frame interval ofthe two touch frame intervals.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein thetouch driving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines in a touchframe interval, the tactile voltage is applied to the tactile touchpanel in a (4N−3)-th touch frame interval and in a (4N−1)-th touch frameinterval, a phase of the tactile voltage applied in the (4N−3)-th touchframe interval and a phase of the tactile voltage applied in the(4N−1)-th touch frame interval are different from each other, and N is anatural number.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a vertical blankinginterval, during which a scan signal for activating a switching elementof a display panel for displaying the image is not applied to thedisplay panel, includes a touch interval and a tactile interval, thetouch driving voltage is applied to the touch driving lines in the touchinterval, and the tactile voltage is applied to the tactile touch panelin the tactile interval.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein a verticalblanking interval, during which a scan signal for activating a switchingelement of a display panel for displaying the image is not applied tothe display panel, includes a touch interval and a tactile interval, thetactile interval includes a first tactile frame interval and a secondtactile interval, the touch driving voltage is applied to the touchdriving lines in the touch interval, a first tactile voltage is appliedto the tactile touch panel in the first tactile frame interval, and asecond tactile voltage having a phase opposite to the first tactilevoltage is applied to the tactile touch panel in the second tactileframe interval.
 11. A touch screen apparatus comprising: a tactile touchpanel comprising a plurality of touch driving lines and a plurality oftouch sensing lines, wherein the tactile touch panel performs a touchfunction and a haptic feedback function; a touch voltage applying partwhich applies a touch driving voltage to the tactile touch panel; and atactile voltage applying part which applies a tactile voltagecorresponding to an image displayed thereon to the tactile touch panelin a blanking interval, during which the touch driving voltage is notapplied, when a touch sensing voltage corresponding to a touch thereonis received through the touch sensing lines.
 12. The touch screenapparatus of claim 11, wherein the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines are disposed on a same substrate.
 13. The touch screenapparatus of claim 12, wherein the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines extend crossing each other, the tactile touch panelfurther comprises an insulation layer disposed on an area where thetouch driving lines and the touch sensing lines overlap each other,wherein the insulation layer electrically isolates the touch drivinglines and the touch sensing lines.
 14. The touch screen apparatus ofclaim 12, wherein the touch driving lines and the touch sensing linesare substantially parallel to each other.
 15. The touch screen apparatusof claim 12, wherein the tactile voltage applying part applies thetactile voltage to the touch driving lines and the touch sensing lines.16. The touch screen apparatus of claim 11, wherein the touch drivinglines and the touch sensing lines are disposed on different substrates,respectively.
 17. The touch screen apparatus of claim 16, wherein thetactile voltage applying part applies the tactile voltage to the touchsensing lines.
 18. The touch screen apparatus of claim 11, wherein aphase of the tactile voltage applied to the tactile display panel isinverted every frame interval of the image to be displayed thereon. 19.The touch screen apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tactile voltage isapplied to a portion of the tactile touch panel corresponding to aposition of the touch detected through the touch sensing lines.
 20. Thetouch screen apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a display paneldisposed below the tactile touch panel; and a shielding layer disposedbetween the tactile touch panel and the display panel and which blocksthe tactile voltage from being applied to the display panel.
 21. Thetouch screen apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: a scan drivingpart which outputs a scan signal which activates a switching elementdisposed on the display panel, wherein the tactile voltage applying partapplies the tactile voltage to the touch driving lines and the touchsensing lines in a vertical blanking interval during which the scansignal is not applied to the display panel.
 22. The touch screenapparatus of claim 11, wherein the blanking interval is in a verticalblanking interval of the image.
 23. The touch screen apparatus of claim11, wherein the touch voltage applying part applies a single touchdriving voltage to the tactile touch panel in a vertical blankinginterval of the image, and the tactile voltage applying part applies asingle tactile voltage to the tactile touch panel in the verticalblanking interval of the image.
 24. The touch screen apparatus of claim11, wherein a touch frame interval, in which the touch driving voltageis applied to the touch driving lines, includes a first tactile frameinterval and a second tactile frame interval, the tactile voltageapplying part applies a first tactile voltage to the tactile touch panelin the first tactile frame interval, and applies a second tactilevoltage having a phase opposite to the first tactile voltage to thetactile touch panel in the second tactile frame interval.
 25. The touchscreen apparatus of claim 11, wherein the touch driving voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines in a touch frame interval, thetactile voltage is applied to the tactile touch panel in a tactile frameinterval, two touch frame intervals correspond to one tactile frameinterval, the tactile voltage applying part applies a first tactilevoltage to the tactile touch panel before the touch driving voltage isapplied to the touch driving lines in a first touch frame interval ofthe two touch frame intervals, and applies a second tactile voltage tothe tactile touch panel after the touch driving voltage is applied tothe touch driving lines in the second touch frame interval of the twotouch frame intervals.
 26. The touch screen apparatus of claim 11,wherein the touch driving voltage is applied to the touch driving linesin a touch frame interval, the tactile voltage applying part applies afirst tactile voltage to the tactile touch panel in a (4N−3)-th touchframe interval, and applies a second tactile voltage having a phaseopposite to the first tactile voltage to the tactile touch panel in a(4N−1)-th touch frame interval, and N is a natural number.
 27. The touchscreen apparatus of claim 11, wherein a vertical blanking interval ofthe image includes a touch interval and a tactile interval, the touchvoltage applying part applies the touch driving voltage to the tactiletouch panel in the touch interval, and applies the tactile voltage tothe tactile touch panel in the tactile interval.
 28. The touch screenapparatus of claim 11, wherein a vertical blanking interval of the imageincludes a touch interval and a tactile interval, the tactile intervalincludes a first tactile frame interval and a second tactile interval,the touch voltage applying part applies the touch driving voltage to thetactile touch panel in the touch interval, and the tactile voltageapplying part applies a first tactile voltage to the tactile touch panelin the first tactile frame interval, and applies a second tactilevoltage having a phase opposite to the first tactile voltage to thetactile touch panel in the second tactile frame interval.